chinkley

Did the city recently widen 5th street in front of P&G, east of Broadway? The outer foot and a half of the sidewalk looks new, and there is a suspicious dip in the street pavement just on the edge. I'd add pictures but my computer is being silly at the moment.

Is there any way for the city to penalize the owners of surface parking lots? I totally get that it's a great annuity to have, if you don't mind it coming from something as lame as a surface lot. And to be honest, when the money is coming in, you don't ask why or how. My response would be for the city to figure out a way that it could make surface lots the less desirable alternative, without being heavy handed about it. In my mind, the whole thing feeds into the larger reality that it is easier (cheaper) to live in Covington, Hyde Park, Price Hill, or Mason, and commute downtown, than it is to live in a tower on Central Parkway and walk 5 blocks to work. Until that changes, there really is no incentive for the surface lots to go away.

looking west from the suspension bridge, you can see that the turn-only lane that's at the bottom of the vine st steps is now completely superfluous. can't go north into a parking lot, nor south towards the river into another parking lot. https://www.google.com/maps/@39.095729,-84.511554,3a,75y,248.91h,66.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s2PlSL2iXrcJ3Cce6dTHfGw!2e0 I wonder if there are plans to narrow the street here, or at least continue the median and plant more trees?

Has anyone done a thought experiment about what cincinnati's subway system would look like it the original line had been built in the 20s, and then additional lines been added through the years? Are there drawings floating around about this? I'd be interested to know!

I hadn't noticed until today that the banks phase 2 and GE are connected on the first and second floors. any idea what that's about, and what (if anything) will do on the open air third floor space?

More important question: any plans on calming the traffic that roars through there? or adding in bike lanes going in either direction? it sucks to have amazing places on both sides...only to be divided by cars going 40.

I rode with the UBBC this evening, and we went down 4th from lytle and then up elm. as we passed pogue's garage all I could think about was how ugly it is. It was even worse turning onto elm. That street between 4th and about 8th is hideous and totally devoid of any charm.

I hope that the building(s) that go in next to the yard house are a little more substantial than just 1 story restaurants. That is such a prime location. I work by the purple people bridge and think that being on the riverfront is a huge asset in my life. I would need a substantial raise to leave such a wonderful location. If the city and county stay patient and market the area effectively (want your employees to have a good work-life balance and get fresh air? want to be near fun after-work hours events?) then there should be companies clamoring to move into office space on the river with a year or two. especially once GE settles in.

But... But... where will I PARK?

I'm not so certain about reaching that goal by 2020. The downsized 4th and Race has 200 units, so that's maybe 500 people. Do we know how many units are going in the tower at 8th and sycamore? together they're probably 1000 people, on the high end. After that... like it or not big buildings take a while to plan and then build. I know that urbancincy has remarked often on the dearth of (visible) projects in the pipeline. Plus, at some point, the towers will have to stop including huge parking garages. That point probably scares many developers, who think they need more money to finance the garages, thus slowing down the pace of construction.

I really want the City to come out with a target number of downtown residents it wants to reach by the year 2020 or 2025. Not just a number, but a well thought-out plan for achieving the goal (that doesn't include 2 parking garage spaced per unit). I'm pretty sure Charlotte has a number, and I'll bet other peer cities do, too. As long as the subsidies per unit are small (and keep decreasing with each building), it is a terrific financial win for the city. What do people think is a good number to shoot for? 25,000 by 2025 has a good ring to it.

Yes, it could only become two-way between Liberty and 12th. Traffic southbound would have to turn right onto 12th. Well I'm definitely pulling for two-way conversion wherever possible.

Doesn't the placement of the tracks on the left side of Main preclude the street from becoming two-way?